SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Kyle Lowry tipped in a missed shot by Randy Foye with 1.7 seconds left for the game-winning basket and No. 6 Villanova survived blowing a 17-point lead in the second half to beat Notre Dame 72-70 on Saturday night.

It was another tough loss for the Irish (10-8, 1-6 Big East), who used a 24-4 run to take a 66-63 lead with 1:38 left. Allen Ray, who missed Villanova's win over South Florida on Tuesday because of strained hamstring, drove strong inside to give the Wildcats (15-2, 6-1) a 69-68 lead and was fouled by Kyle McAlarney. Ray made the free throw to give Villanova a two-point lead.

The Irish tied it on a basket inside by Torin Francis. But Foye, who had 18 points, drove inside to the basket. The ball bounced off the rim and the 6-foot-1 Lowry leapt up in a crowd and got his right hand on it for the game-winner.

The Irish lost twice in double overtime -- to Georgetown on Tuesday and to Pittsburgh earlier this month. They are off to their worst conference start since 1995-96, their first season in the Big East when they also started 1-6. They finished 4-14 in the Big East that season.

Allen led the Wildcats with 23 points and 10 rebounds and Mike Nardi added 22 points.

The Wildcats used a 9-0 run early in the second half to move ahead by 13 and went ahead 59-42 when Dante Cunningham scored down low midway through the half. But Notre Dame answered with the 24-4 run, with Quinn, McAlarney and Carter each scoring seven points, including two free throws by McAlarney when Villanova coach Jay Wright was called for a technical. Two free throws by Carter cut the lead to 61-60.

Notre Dame led for much of the first half, going up 17-11 on the strength of a 9-0 run. A 3-pointer by McAlarney gave the Irish a 24-19 lead. The Wildcats answered with an 8-2 run and moved ahead 28-27 on a 3-pointer by Nardi.

Villanova led 35-34 at halftime even though only three players -- Nardi, Ray and Foye -- scored. Only three other players even attempted shots, one each.

Villanova has won 10 of the 12 games against the Irish since they joined the Big East.